Receptacle closure



May 18, 1937. A. l.. Mr-:RoLLE vRECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed Nov. 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR asias l, VcmZZe ATTORNEY May 18, 1937. A, MEROLLE 2,080,983

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed Nov. 22, 1935 2 sheets-sheet' 2 ZG. l 6' INVENTOR Au. asas L. 2%raile ATTORN EY Patented May 18, i937 STES ATENT QFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a receptacle closure and particularly to a closure which when once unsealed can not be again restored to its original condition but which will include a part adapted to serve thereafter as a temporary sealing element.

An object of the invention is to provide a closure of the type indicated which will include twoseparate elements one being a closure elel0 ment proper and the other being a sealing or retaining element for the closure element, the sealing element being removable in its entirety and being not returnable but the closure element being of a character adapted for repeated use.

A further object is to provide a sealing or retaining element so constructed as to be easily removable and incapable of re-use without detection of the fact of its removal.

A further object is to provide a retaining element in the form of a strip of sheet metal bent arcund the receptacle and the closure element and having its opposite ends interlocked by parts easily separable but adapted to become broken or otherwise deformed so as not to be returnable to their original condition.

A further and more detailed object is to provide a retaining band as indicated having its opposite ends interfolded and so constructed as to be easily unfolded to permit removal of the band and being at the same time incapable of return to original interfolded condition.

A further object is to provide inter-folded ends formed with one or more lines of weakness thereacross positioned to insure fracture of the material of the band whenever the inter-folded parts are unfolded and refolded.

A further detailed object is to so arrange the inter-folded end portions as to provide for the easy access of a tool wherewith to effect unfolding. Y

A further object is to so construct the band that it will be likely to buckle when its ends are spread apart sufficiently to permit removal of the band, thereby providing visual indication of the fact of removal.

A further object is to so construct the receptacle as to facilitate the retention of the closure element and also to facilitate the formation and the easy removal of the band element.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form of 5 embodiment of the invention:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a receptacle closure constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the same as it appears in position upon a receptacley constructed to receive it, a portion of said gure being broken away and shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view substantially upon the plane of line II-II of Fig. l. l5

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view substantially upon the plane of line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of opposite end portions of the blank from which the band appearing in Figs. l to 3 is formed. f

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modified construction of the retaining band.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary.' sectional view substantially upon the plane of line 25 VI-VI of Fig. 5, and y Fig. 7 is a plan view of opposite end portions of the blank from which the band appearing in Figs. 5 and 6 is formed.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the structures illustrated therein, and referring rst to the structure Figs. 1 to 4, the reference character L indicatesl the closure element while the reference character G indicates the retaining element or band.

The receptacle is indicated generally by the reference character H.

The closure element L may be of any type but as here shown is an ordinary sheet metal screw cap having a top wall portion I anda pendant 40 annular flange portion 2 threaded to interengage with the threads 3 provided upon the receptacle.

At the lower edge of the flange portion the closure or cap L is formed with an annular outstanding wire edge 4. 45

A sealing gasket as 5 may be provided within the cap for overlying the upper annular edge of the receptacle if desired.

The closure element or cap L is thus seen to be adaptable for use as a closure for the receptacle independently of whether or not the retaining band G is present, and once the retaining band has been removed said cap may be utilized indefinitely.

The purpose of the retaining band is to initially hold the cap L against unintentional displacement and to indicate by its absence, or by the mutilation or deformation of some part of itself, the fact that the cap L may have been removed. The removal of the band or the deformation of some part thereof will thus serve as notice to the purchaser of the receptacle that the receptacle contents may have been tampered with.

The retaining band G may be formed of a single strip of sheet metal of suitable length to entirely surround the wire edge portion 4 of the cap L, as indicated. Its opposite end portions 6 and 'I are formed with return bends or flaps 8 and 9 which are inter-folded with each other as most clearly indicated in Fig. 2 so that said opposite ends are joined together to hold the band in its proper normal position surrounding the receptacle.

The upper annular edge portion of the band is turned inwardly so as to provide an inturned annular flange I to engage over the upper surface portion of the wire edge 4, and after the band has been properly placed then its lower annular edge portion is turned inwardly to form an inturned annular liange as I I to engage the under surface portion of an annular rib part I2 provided upon the receptacle.

In order to permit of easy removal of the retaining band the relatively under end portion 1 of the band is formed with a slot as I3 so that the flap 9 includes two parts as I4 and I5 spaced away from each other across the intervening slot I3, and said slot is of a length so that a portion thereof is exposed as an opening beyond the end of the seam as clearly indicated in Fig. 1 so as to facilitate the easy introduction of a suitable tool- A, as for instance a fork tang, to position beneath the intermediate part of the opposite end 6 of the band, the `tool being thus in ideal position to lift or wedge the seamed portions outwardly and apart.

The parts I4 and I5 of the end 'I inter-fold with the upper and lower end portions of the flap 8 of end 6, and these inter-folded parts are bent or folded tightly together, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, but preferably the intermediate portion of the ap 8, which overlies the slot I3, is less sharply bent and thereby provides a more rounded bend, as indicated at IE adjacent to the tool admitting opening at the end of slot I3, thereby making said opening more prominent and clearly defined and at the same time providing a suitable guide surface to assist in guiding the tool into the opening.

As a means of insuring against successful return of the inter-folded portions to interlocked engagement after having once been separated it is proposed that said inter-folded portions be so weakened that while they will be sufficiently strong to serve their intended purpose of holding the ends of the band normally connected yet they will fail if attempt be made to unbend and rebend them. To this effect the drawings suggest that a line of weakness as I'I may be formed across the hinge region of the parts I4 and I5 and that a similar line of weakness as I8 may be formed across the end portion 6 of the bandin close proximity to the line I'I, as seen in Fig. 2, so that any unbending movement of the interfolded parts will occur sharply along these lines of weakness and produce fracture of some part or all thereof.

It is proposed further that after the band has been positioned upon the receptacle and preferably, though not necessarily, at the time of turning in the under liange II, the central annular part of the band, including the interfolded or seam parts, shall be formed into an inwardly bent portion as I9. The rib I 2 of the receptacle may be provided with an annular channel as 29 to receive the portion I9, and incidentally to form annular abutment shoulder portions 2I and 22 against which the band may be pressed in forming the portion I9.

The portion I9 is more shallow than the channel 2D so that an annular opening as 23 is provided beneath the portion I9 into which the fork tang, or other tool introduced for prying apart the seam, may be accommodated regardless of the circumferential position of the seam on the receptacle.

Due to the semi-circular cross sectional contour of the portion I9 said portion constitutes an annular stiffening rib upon the band which, to-

gether with the stillness provided by the flanges f I Il and II, provides a suitable degree of resistance against such separation of the end portions of the band as is necessary to remove the band from the receptacle. Because of this resistance it follows that any effort to separate the interfolded seam parts will almost of necessity result in a sharp bend of the end portion 6 along the line of weakness I8. Also it is noted that any bending along the line of weakness I8 will, on account of the semi-circular cross section of the portion I9 across which said line of weakness extends, cause either a straightening out of the semi-circular contour of the portion I9 in the region of the line of weakness, or a positive fracture of the material along said line. action must occur along a single straight line and the parts must therefore either move into this straight line or separate from each other along regions lying to one side of said straight line. And hence it will be substantially impossible to bend the end 6 along the line I8 Without such a fracture or deformation of the material as will be conspicuously noticeable.

Also, the spreading apart of the ends of the band against the resistance generated by the portions IU--II and I9 will so stretch or buckle one or more of said portions as to indicate the fact of the spreading.

In the modification Figs. to 7 the structure is the same as has already been described, except that in this instance the end portion 6 of the band is formed with two endwise slots 24 and 25 thereby providing a central tongue 26 constituting a nger grip extension of the central portion I9 of the band. Throughout the remainder of its circumference the band is formed with parallel lines of weakness as 21 and 28 bordering the central portion I9 so that a user, by gripping the portion 2B, may readily tear out the entire circumferential length of the portion I9 leaving the upper and lower marginal portions as 2.9 and of the band separated, and thus permitting the easy removal of the closure element.

The upper portion 29 may be lifted away without hindrance, and discarded.

The lower portion 39 may be easily removed by unbending its seamed end portions which are now of such small dimensions that unbending can be easily performed by ones fingers.

The transverse line of weakness I'I in the end portion I of the band may be present as in the previous structure, and the transverse line of weakness I8 may likewise be present as before except that its midportion, where it traverses The hinge the portion I9, may be omitted, as indicated in Fig. 7.

When ran operator pulls outwardly upon the 'tongue 26 the force thus applied may unbend the inter-folded end portions of the band, substantially as in the structure Figs. l to 4, but if the inter-folded portions successfully resist bending at this time then the pull upon the tongue 26 will result in tearing out the entire portion I9, after which the upper and lower portions 29 and 30 of the band 'may be removed as above suggested.

While the drawings indicate that the portion i9 may in this instance be of semi-circular cross section, it will be apparent that said portion may be formed in the same plane as the upper and lower portions 29 and 30. The semi-circular formation however is preferable since it not only lends strength to the portion I 9 and facilitates its more accurate severance along the lines of weakness 2T and 28 but it also insures that any outward lifting of the tongue 26 will of necessity cause such a buckling orwrinkling of the metal as will indicate to an observer the fact that the seal has been tampered with.

A closure device constructed as herein shown and described is of easy manufacture and of practical and efficient form in use. The retaining band serves to hold the closure element against possibility of accidental loosening, but when the ends of the band are separated, or the portion i9 torn out, the band may be readily detached from the receptacle and disposed of as of no further use, leaving the closure or cap L as an attractive and eicient temporary closure for the receptacle, and any tampering with the band such as would permit the removal of the closure or cap L will of necessity result in such mutilation, deformation or fracture of some part of the band as will indicate to an observer the fact that the contents of the receptacle have probably been meddled with.

As many changes could be made in this` construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters'Patent is:-

1. A receptacle closure comprising a cap member and a separately formed retaining band removable to permit removal of the cap, and the band having opposite circumferential end portions interfolded with each other to hold the ends band having opposite circumferential end portions being folded back upon itself, at least one of the interfolded end portions having a line of weakness formed thereacross of a character permitting unfolding of said end portions but rendering said portions incapable of refoldingwithout fracture along said line of weakness.

2. A receptacle closure comprising a cap member and a separately formed retaining band removable to permit removal of the cap, and the band having opposite circumferential end-portions each folded back upon itself as a bendable hook said hooks being engaged together as an interfolded seam holding the ends of the band connected but separable by unbending of said hooks, and a finger grip tongue connected to simultaneously unbend both of said hooks.

3. In combination, a receptacle and a closure therefor, the closure comprising a cap member anda separately formed retaining band removable to permit removal of the cap, the band having opposite circumferential end portions interfolded with each other and there being an opening provided through the material of the band adjacent Vto said finter-folded end portions through which to insert a tool for unbending said inter-folded end portions, and said receptacle having a surface depression providing a hollow space beneath said band and said interfolded end portions adapted to accommodate the inner end portion of said tool.

4. In combination, a receptacle and a closure therefor, the closure comprising a cap member and a separately formed retaining band removable to permit removal of the cap, the band having opposite circumferential end portions interfolded with each other and there being an opening provided through the material of the band adjacent) to said inter-folded end portions through which to insert a tool for unbending said inter-folded end portions, and said receptacle having an annular groove therein providing a hollow space beneath the band extending entirely around the receptacle soI as to accommodate the inner end portion of the tool inserted through said opening irrespective of the radial position of said opening with respect to the receptacle.

5. A receptacle closure comprising a cap member and a separately formed retaining band removable to permit removal of the cap, the band having opposite circumferential end portions inter-folded with each other to hold the ends separably connected together, the band also having a pair of lines of weakness extending circumferentially thereof spaced apart demarking an annular tear-out strip intermediate the top and bottom margins of the band, and said tear-out strip having an extending portion constituting a starting tongue disposed directly adjacent to said inter-folded end portions so as to apply an unfolding strain upon said end portions by said tongue.

6. A receptacle closure comprising a cap member and a separately formed retaining band connected therewith having its bottom marginal part adapted for connection with the receptacle, said band having a pair of lines of weakness eX- tending circumferentially thereof spaced apart demarking an annular tear-out strip intermediate the top and bottom margins of the band, and said tear-out strip having an extending portion constituting a starting tongue extending from one end thereof.

'7. A receptacle closure comprising acap member and a separately formed retaining band removable to permit removal of the cap, and the band having opposite circumferential end portions interfo-lded with each other, one of said interfolded end portions including a bendable folded back part constituting a hook extending substantially entirely across the band, the other of said interfolded end portions including a pair of bendable folded back parts constituting two hooks spaced away from each other one adjacent to the upper margin of the band and the other adjacent the lower margin of the band, said two hooks of the second end portion interengaging with the single hook of the first end portion at points spaced adjacent to opposite ends ofthe hook of the i'lrst end portion and leaving the midregion of the hook of Said first end portion free of the hooks of the second. en d portion and accessible to a tool for unbending thehook portions;

8.'Areceptacle closure comprisinga cap member and a separately formed retaining band removable to permit removal of the cap, and the band having opposite circumferentialA end portions separably connected together', the separable connection consisting of turned back hook portions of the opposite ends of said band hooked together and adapted for release by unbending of said hook portions, and the: hook portion of one end of the band consistingV of hook parts spaced away from each other and engaging the hook portion of the other end at spaced points in the length of the second hook portion transversely of the band and leaving the mid region of the second hook'portion free of the rst hook portion and thereby accessible to a tool to unbend the hook portions.

9. A receptacle closure comprising a cap member and a separately formed retaining band connected therewith having its' bottom marginal part adapted for connection with the receptacle, said handhaving a pair ofv lines of Weakness extending Acircumferentially thereof spaced apartv demarking an annular tear-out strip intermediate the top and bottom margins of the band, and said tear-out strip being semi-circularly concaved in cross section the cross sectional curvature extending to and' terminating in said lines of weakness.

10. In combination, a container having a neck defining a lling and discharging opening, a

` closure for the opening, a seal for securing the t, closure against movement, said seal comprising an elongated metal band encircling the neck and closure, a vertical seam connecting the ends of the band, and av finger piece formed integral with the band and providing-means for opening the seam and removing the band.

11. In combination, a container having a neck defining a filling and discharging opening, a closure for the opening, a seal for securing the closure against movement, said seal comprising an elongated metal band encircling the neck and closure, a-vertical seam connecting thel endsl of the band, and a finger piece constituting a re'- duced longitudinal extension at one end ofthe band providing means for opening; the seam and removing the band.

12. In combination, a container havingV a neck dening a filling and discharging opening, and an annular downwardly facing shoulder encircling the neck, a closure for the opening,v a seal for securing the closure against movement, said seal comprising an elongated metal band encircling the neck and closure, and having an area intermediate its upper and lower endsA contracted to take over said shoulder, a vertical seam connecting the ends of the band, and. a nger piece formed integral with the band and' providing means for opening the seam and removing said band. c

13,. In combination, a container having a neck dening a iilling andl discharging opening, a closure for theopening, a retaining band for securing the closure against movement length-l wise ofl the neck, said band comprising an elongated metal strip encircling the neck and closure, a vertical seam connecting the ends of the band and including interlocking hooks formed' byfolding the end portions of the strip upon themselves, and a nger piece providing means for opening the seam and removing the band.

14. In combination, a container having a neck defining a filling and discharging opening, a closure for the opening, a retaining band for securing the closure against movement lengthwise of the neck, said band comprising an elongated metal strip encircling the neck and closure, a vertical seam connecting the ends of the band' and including interlocking hooks formed by folding the end portions of the strip upon themselves, and a finger piece providing means for opening the seam and removing the band, said finger piece constituting a reduced longitudinal extension formed integral with and at one end of saidband.

AUGUSTUS L. MEROLLE. 

